Autobiographical writing, some scholars of modern Arabic literature would argue, heralded the emergence of the modern Arabic novel as a literary genre. Against a backdrop of literary theory, we’ll conduct a close reading, in English translation, of selected autobiographical texts that are either novels disguised as autobiographies, or autobiographies disguised as novels, or just plain memoirs and life-stories written in the first person singular. We will read some of the most famous autobiographies, along with some of the most neglected ones: Fadwa Tuqan, Assia Djebar, Jurji Zeidan, Jubran Khalil Jubran, Taha Hussein, Hanna Mina, Mohamed Choukri and others. Our main focus will be the emergence of Arab subjectivity, through the act of writing the self.

Course Requirements:

Class participation; one short, 5-page essay, based on, or inspired by the weekly reading; and a final seminar-paper.

Intended Audience:

Advanced undergrads, and grads, with some background in modern Arabic literature

Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms.